Sony introduces world’s first full frame sensor consumer camcorder

We spend a few minutes with the NEX-VG900E, greatly prescribed for the budding documaker.

Full sensor is kinda keyword in the prosumer space these days, and that too in smaller and even smaller variants. Gone are the days when full-frame cam owners were the ones whose images you found in some fancy Nat Geo coffee table book. The pro-level camera space is a far more level playing ground today in terms of access to technology.

Which brings us to the Sony Handycam NEX-VG900E, which we had a chance to play around with, courtesy our friends at Sony Gulf. Its the worlds first consumer camcorder with a 35mm full frame sensor, and frankly this one pulls the whole tricks. A wannabe Scorcese looking to shoot your version of The Last Waltz? This could be your savior.

To start off with, we found the camera very open in terms of its lens ecosystem. The body-only box comes with an A-mount DSLR lense adaptor, and supports generic adaptors, so you can use lenses from any brand.

With a resolution of 24.3 effective megapixels, the Sony-developed Exmor Full Frame CMOS sensor inside the NEX-VG900E is around 40 times larger than the equivalent in ordinary consumer camcorders. It is also more than twice the size of the APS-C sized sensor found in other interchangeable lens handycam models. It shoots video in 25p/24p progressive mode, and supports AVCHD version 2.0 standard 50p, which is awesome.

The small touches were the winners here. Like the seesaw lever on the zoom that allowed for gradual zoom control, nicely hidden shoe for shotgun mikes, headphone access point and the seriously cool quad capsule spatial array microphone featuring four omnidirectional capsules that can be switched for stereo or 5.1ch surround recording. You can even adjust recording levels, with accurate visual confirmation provided by an audio level meter on the LCD display.

And mama mia, that form factor! It shouts pro, serious, afficianado, in ways no number of pixels or optical zoom could.

That said, the NEX-VG900E is not cheap at AED 12,999 but forthe buck, this could be the camcorder you have been looking for. The Sony Handycam NEX-VG900E hits UAE stores and will be available in select Jumbo Electronics showrooms next week.

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